Expansion momentum Hickory’s Smokehouse is rapidly expanding with plans to open more than 35 restaurants across the UK and recent openings or announcements in Cambridge, Liverpool and Peterborough, indicating a growing footprint and increasing opportunities for regional suppliers, franchise collaborations, and co-branding partnerships.

People-driven growth The company emphasizes a strong people culture, awards as Best Large Company To Work For and Best Pub Employer, plus a robust Training Academy and enrichment programs. This suggests potential for B2B partnerships around staff training, recruitment services, or hospitality-optimized software to enhance human capital and guest experience.

Local sourcing emphasis News highlights UK and Ireland meat sourcing with exceptions for brisket, implying a focus on local or regional suppliers and ethical, traceable supply chains. Opportunities exist to offer regional meat, produce, or sustainable supply solutions and supplier onboarding services.

Tech-enabled marketing The tech stack includes Shopify, Criteo, Hotjar, Microsoft Clarity, iCIMS, Cookiebot, SES, and Mautic, indicating a mature approach to ecommerce, automation, analytics, and candidate experience. Potential sales angles include marketing automation, conversion rate optimization, and customer data platform enhancements.

Restaurant ecosystem potential With multiple upcoming openings and a unique concept (southern BBQ with cinema in Liverpool), Hickory’s presents ongoing opportunities for equipment suppliers, interior fit-out partners, branding agencies, and local PR/community partnerships to support new venues and regional rollouts.